Is it actually possible to have a relaxing holiday with a 3 year old ?

[rookiemater]

We are almost at an end of our London Houseswap and I am just musing.

I didn't expect a trip to London to be relaxing and we did loads of fun things, but am wondering if there is a way of doing it so that DS aged 3 enjoys himself but we don't come out the other side, having had a great time, but being somewhat shattered.

Anyone have any suggestions ?

I don't really, except to say that life with very young children is pretty shattering no matter what you do

That is really not helpful is it!

I reckon it's not possible. The holidays are fun, but, yeah, shattering.

Oh dear was hoping that we were just not doing it right and someone would have a fabulous suggestion, oh well at least its not just us !

yes its possible but not that sort of holiday. We've had lovely relaxing beach holidays but we've used creches for some of the time and had the creche staff babysit in the evenings a couple of time so we could eat alone as well.

We know our DD has enjoyed the Creche as well as spending time with us so a good balance can be found.

Go away with friends? It's not everyone's idea of a good time, but our holiday last year with a 3 year old and our friends and their 3 year old would have been extremely relaxing - the 3 year olds entertained each other magnificently for hours on end - if it hadn't been for the pesky babies, who made sure we all needed a holiday when we got back.

The most relaxing holidays with toddlers that we have had have always been at family hotels with good child facilities - and separate rooms. (I dont' mean separate rooms, but a suite or interconnected rooms, so that we can have a private and peaceful space.)

Places like Knoll House, Old Park Hotelor Sands Resort, where there are separate meals at kids' times, creche and baby-listening.

We can't afford them, now that we can only go during school holidays.

Hire a villa with other families. Take turns to look after the kids. Try and find one with a chef and you will definitely relax. Some even do nannies .(I didn't really like this, to be honest, but Scott Dunn do it if you are interested and feeling rich.)

I have also heard wonderful things about Villa Pia in Tuscan but I have never tried it.
www.villapia.com/

But the most relaxing holiday I have had was not with the nannies but in CenterParcs! No idea why! I think it's all those trees and low expectations!

Hi snickersnack, we went with friends last year and was the most unrelaxing holiday ever as DS was too little to really play with the others and as we only have the one good sleeper and PFB found it hard to adjust to the increased noise levels. I do agree now that he is a bit older it might be worth trying again.

I'm not so keen on somewhere with a creche as DS gets a bit traumatised going in as we used one for one session at La manga and at Center Parcs. I'm sure he has a good time once he is in but it doesn't feel like the right option for us at this time.

Ideally I was saying to DH what we want is somewhere where they offer children entertainment but non obtrusively and not in a separate venue, so for example there would be someone in the pool to play with him for an hour or so whilst we watched, or a mini kickers football pitch right beside us.

Prettycandles we do house swaps for the reasons you have mentioned, means we get enough space so DS can play and we aren't cramped. I have looked at Sands, but the price put me off somewhat.

Stephia I love Center Parcs too. I think its something to do with not being able to drive and having lots of space in the villa. Sadly DH is on a bit of an economy drive at the minute and discovered that we could do two long weekend breaks in the caravan park just outside of Bowness on Windermere ( which we have stayed in before and is lovely but when all is said and done is still a caravan) for the price of one in CP so we won't be going there for a while.

Will look up Villa Pia, we have a week in September to fill and we were talking about Italy.